Benga (musician)
{{Short description|British musician}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Benga
| image = Benga performing at Boiler Room in Liverpool. Jan 2024.jpg
| caption = Benga performing at Boiler Room in Liverpool, January 2024
| image_size =
| landscape = yes
| alt =
| birth_name = Adegbenga Adejumo
| alias =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1986|9|1}}
| birth_place = Clapton, London, England
| origin = Croydon, South London, England
| death_date =
| death_place =
| genre = {{hlist|Bass|dubstep|UK garage|future house}}
| occupations = {{hlist|Record producer|DJ}}
| instruments = {{hlist|Synthesiser|sampler|drums|vocals}}
| years_active = {{hlist|2002–2014|2015–present}}
| label = {{hlist|Big Apple|Benga Beats|Tempa}}
| current_member_of = Magnetic Man
}}
Adegbenga Otomayomi Adejumo{{cite web|url=https://www.ascap.com/repertory#/ace/search/workID/322888793 |title=B4 THE DUAL |website=ASCAP |publisher=American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers |access-date=May 5, 2025}} (born 1 September 1986), known as Benga, is a British musician from Croydon, known for being a pioneer of dubstep record production.[https://archive.today/20120803193612/http://www.imorecords.co.uk/dubstep/benga-biography/ Benga Biography – The IMO Records Blog]. Retrieved on 22 November 2011. He has been featured on a variety of compilations including Mary Anne Hobbs's Warrior Dubz, Tempa's The Roots of Dubstep and the BBC Radio 1Xtra anniversary mix.
Career
Adejumo is of Yoruba Nigerian descent.{{cite news|url=https://face2faceafrica.com/article/top-nigerian-entertainers-leading-the-us-uk-entertainment-industries|title=Top Nigerian Entertainers leading the US & UK Entertainment Industries|author=Zirra Banu|date=5 May 2011|access-date=3 December 2014|publisher=Face 2 Face Africa}}
Inspired by UK garage producer Wookie, Benga would produce tunes on a PlayStation, and subsequently FruityLoops. As a teenager he would visit the Big Apple record shop in Croydon where he was introduced to Skream, and together they would help forge the sound of dubstep emerging in the early 2000s.[http://www.allmusic.com/artist/benga-mn0000563928] Benga – Allmusic. Retrieved 22 June 2013{{cite news |url=http://observer.guardian.co.uk/print/0,,329781715-111639,00.html |title=Various, Dubstep Allstars 5 – Mixed By DJ N-Type |last=Warren |first=Emma |newspaper=The Observer |publisher=Guardian Media Group |location=London |date=22 April 2007 |access-date=3 April 2011}} His productions caught the attention of DJ Hatcha, who worked at the shop, and, by the age of 15, Benga had made his first record, "Skank", released on Big Apple's own record label in 2002.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2008/feb/17/urbanmusic.shopping2 |title=Benga, Diary of an Afro Warrior |last=Warren |first=Emma |date=17 February 2008 |newspaper=The Observer |publisher=Guardian Media Group |location=London |access-date=17 April 2010}}
Benga's second release was a collaboration with Skream, called "The Judgement".{{cite web |title=Benga & Skream – The Judgement |url=https://www.discogs.com/Benga-Skream-The-Judgement/master/112100 |website=Discogs |access-date=22 September 2018}} Further releases followed on Big Apple Records, Hotflush Recordings and Planet Mu, before Benga self-released his debut album Newstep in 2006.{{cite web |title=Benga – Newstep |url=https://www.discogs.com/Benga-Newstep/release/643324 |website=Discogs |date=13 March 2006 |access-date=22 September 2018}} As dubstep garnered mainstream attention, Benga continued to release singles, including a collaboration with Coki of Digital Mystikz called "Night", that reached 98 in the UK Singles Chart in 2008.{{cite web |title=Benga & Coki |url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/3777/benga-and-coki/ |website=Official Charts Company |access-date=22 September 2018}} Diary of an Afro Warrior, Benga's second album, followed in the same year with Resident Advisor describing it as "one of the most anticipated LPs in dubstep yet."{{cite web |url=http://www.residentadvisor.net/news.aspx?id=9055 |title=Dubstep Preview 2008 |work=Resident Advisor |date=12 January 2008 |access-date=3 April 2011}}
In 2007 Benga along with fellow producers Skream and Artwork, formed the dubstep supergroup Magnetic Man.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/sep/09/magnetic-man-dubstep-interview?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3487 |title=Magnetic Man: Dubstep's first supergroup |last=Fitzpatrick |first=Rob |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=9 September 2010 |access-date=5 March 2012}} This resulted in the release of an EP and eponymous studio album in 2009 and 2010, respectively. Benga also produced Katy B's debut single "Katy on a Mission", which peaked at number 5 in the UK Singles Chart in 2010.{{cite web |title=Official Singles Chart Top 100 - 29 August 2010 - 04 September 2010 |url=http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/20100829/7501/ |website=Official Charts Company |access-date=22 September 2018}}
From January 2011, Benga joined BBC Radio 1 with Skream as part of 'In New DJs We Trust',{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/innewdjswetrust/profile/skreambenga.shtml |title=Radio 1 – In New DJs We Trust – Skream & Benga's Profile |work=BBC Radio 1 |publisher=BBC |access-date=4 June 2012}} and presented a weekly Friday night show.{{cite web|author=Ben Cooper, Controller of Radio 1 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/071211radio1.html |title=Media Centre – Radio 1 announces changes to dance music line-up |publisher=BBC |access-date=4 June 2012}} Skream and Benga performed together at Field Day music festival in Sydney on New Year's Day 2012.{{cite web |url=http://fuzzy.com.au/coming-up/252/info |title=Coming Up: Field Day 2012 |publisher=Fuzzy |date=29 September 2011 |access-date=4 June 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426001111/http://fuzzy.com.au/coming-up/252/info |archive-date=26 April 2012 |df=dmy-all }}
Benga generated controversy in July 2012 after reportedly saying he wished to remove himself from dubstep, insisting that he no longer wanted to be a part of the genre. He went on to clarify his comments saying "For me to remain creative, I've kinda not got to call my music dubstep and for me to keep pushing boundaries and moving around, making songs... I can't call myself dubstep."{{cite news| url=http://www.clashmusic.com/news/benga-on-those-dubstep-comments | work=Clash Magazine | location=London | title=Benga on Those Dubstep Comments | first=Robin | last=Murray | date=13 July 2012 | access-date=16 July 2012}}
In 2013, he released his third album Chapter II on Sony Music, which included the single "Forefather" featuring Kano. He also created an official remix of Donna Summer's "I Feel Love", which features on the tribute remix album Love To Love You Donna,{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/gb/album/love-to-love-you-donna/711598547|title=iTunes – Music – Love To Love You Donna by Donna Summer|publisher=iTunes|date=18 October 2013}} and co-produced Dominique Young Unique's 2014 debut single "Throw It Down" with DJ Fresh.
On 2 February 2014, Adejumo announced on social media that following his engagement to Holly-Jae Treadgold, he was retiring to focus on raising a family.{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/iambenga/posts/771320752897069|title=Benga – im engage to Holly-Jae Treadgold the love of my life ...|publisher=Facebook|date=2 February 2014}}{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/I_Skream/status/429935098965004288|title=Twitter / I_Skream: Salute to my brother Benga ...|publisher=Twitter|date=2 February 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://getdarker.com/articles/benga-retires-from-djing/|title=Benga retires from DJing|publisher=GetDarker|date=2 February 2014}} However, in May 2014, he announced plans to complete a new album.{{cite web |url=https://twitter.com/iambenga/statuses/464430205210468355 |title=It's time to finish an album that has been worked on for the last ten years |publisher=Twitter |date=8 May 2014 |access-date=9 May 2014}}
In September 2015, Benga revealed via his Twitter account that mental health issues had been the reason for his retirement announcement.{{cite news| url=https://www.magneticmag.com/2015/09/benga-opens-up-about-mental-health-issues/ | work=Magnetic Magazine | title=Benga opens up about mental health issues, artists respond with support | first=Harrison | last=Williams | date=16 September 2015 | access-date=22 September 2018}} In an interview with The Guardian, he explained that he noticed issues in late 2013 and was subsequently sectioned in March 2014. He stated that excessive touring led to schizophrenia.{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/oct/02/dubstep-dj-producer-benga-mental-illness | work=TheGuardian.com | location=London | title=Benga: 'Nobody wants to come clean, let alone an artist' | first=Kate | last=Hutchinson | date=2 October 2015 | access-date=22 September 2018}} In an interview with Annie Mac on BBC Radio 1 in 2018, Benga claimed to have deleted all of his productions from his hard drive during his hospital stay. He premiered a new track "Psychosis" on the radio show, inspired by and to treat his psychological experiences, and was released in February 2018 on his new Illuminate record label.{{cite news| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-42978191 | work=BBC | location=London | title=Benga: Music is helping me recover from psychosis | date=7 February 2018 | access-date=22 September 2018}}{{cite news| url=https://ukf.com/news/benga-returns-new-single-label-illuminate/21288 | work=UKF | title=Benga returns with new single and label: Illuminate | first=Dave | last=Jenkins | date=9 February 2018 | access-date=22 September 2018}}
Discography
=Albums=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| scope="col" rowspan="2"| Title
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album details ! scope="col" colspan="1"| Peak chart positions |
|---|
| scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| UK |
| scope="row" | Diary of an Afro Warrior
|
| 139 |
| scope="row" | Chapter II
|
| 93 |
=EPs=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| scope="col"| Title
! scope="col"| EP details |
|---|
| scope="row" | Benga Beats Volume 1
|
|
| scope="row" | Invasion
|
|
| scope="row" | The Southside EP
|
|
| scope="row" | Benga EP Volume 2
|
|
| scope="row" | Pleasure EP
|
|
| scope="row" | Phaze: One
|
|
| scope="row" | Scion A/V Presents: Skream & Benga
|
|
| scope="row" | Future Funk EP
|
|
=Singles=
==As lead artist==
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Title ! scope="col" colspan="1"| Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album |
|---|
| scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| UK |
| 2002
! scope="row"| "Skank" | — | rowspan="3"| Non-album singles |
| 2004
! scope="row"| "Hydro" / "Elektro" | — |
| 2006
! scope="row"| "Comb 60s" | — |
| 2007
! scope="row"| "Crunked Up" | — | Diary of an Afro Warrior |
| 2008
! scope="row"| "Electro Scratch" / "The Germ" | — | rowspan="6"| Non-album singles |
| rowspan="2"| 2009
! scope="row"| "Technocal" | — |
| scope="row"| "Buzzin'"
| — |
| 2010
! scope="row"| "Stop Watching" | — |
| rowspan="2"| 2011
! scope="row"| "Faithless" / "Acid Lie" | — |
| scope="row"| "Transformers" (with Kutz) | — |
| rowspan="6"| 2012
! scope="row"| "I Will Never Change" | — |
| scope="row"| "Icon" (featuring Bebe Black) | — | rowspan="4"| Non-album singles |
| scope="row"| "Pour Your Love" (featuring Marlene) | 189 |
| scope="row"| "We're Coming Out"
| — |
| scope="row"| "Open Your Eyes"
| — |
| scope="row"| "To Hell and Back"
| — | rowspan="2"| Chapter II |
| 2013
! scope="row"| "Forefather" | 123 |
| rowspan="6"| 2018
! scope="row"| "Psychosis" |
==Benga & Skream==
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| scope="col"| Year
! scope="col"| Title ! scope="col"| Album |
|---|
| 2003
! scope="row"| "The Judgement" | Non-album single |
==Hatcha & Benga==
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| scope="col"| Year
! scope="col"| Title ! scope="col"| Album |
|---|
| 2006
! scope="row"| "10 Tons Heavy" | Non-album single |
==Benga & Walsh==
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| scope="col"| Year
! scope="col"| Title ! scope="col"| Album |
|---|
| rowspan="2"| 2006
! scope="row"| "Spooksville" | rowspan="5"| Non-album singles |
| scope="row"| "Military" |
| 2007
! scope="row"| "Bingo" |
| 2008
! scope="row"| "Addicts" |
| 2010
! scope="row"| "Biscuit Factory" / "Bass Face" |
==Benga & Coki==
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Title ! scope="col" colspan="1"| Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album |
|---|
| scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| UK {{cite web|url=http://www.theofficialcharts.com/artist/_/benga%20&%20coki|title=The Official Charts Company – Benga (musician)|date=3 May 2013|publisher=The Official Charts Company}} |
| 2008
! scope="row"| "Night" | 98 | Diary of an Afro Warrior |
==Benga & Paul Trueman==
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| scope="col"| Year
! scope="col"| Title ! scope="col"| Album |
|---|
| 2010
! scope="row"| "Truben" | Non-album single |
=Production credits=
| class="wikitable" | |||
| Year | Track | Artist | Release |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | "Ho" | rowspan="2"|Youngman | rowspan="2"|"Ho / One & Only" |
| 2010 | "One & Only" | ||
| 2010 | "Katy on a Mission" | Katy B | On a Mission |
| 2011 | "Tear It Out" | rowspan="2"|Youngman | rowspan="2"|"Tear It Out / I Warned Ya" |
| 2011 | "I Warned Ya" | ||
| 2012 | "Come Taste the Rainbow" | Example | The Evolution of Man |
| 2013 | "Busketeer (Ghetto Yout Fi Rich)" | Kano featuring Elephant Man | rowspan="2"|Non-album singles |
| 2014 | "Throw It Down" (with DJ Fresh) | Dominique Young Unique | |
| 2016 | "Can't Do It like Me" | Azealia Banks | Slay-Z |
References
{{Reflist|2}}
External links
{{commons category|Benga (musician)}}
- {{Official website}}
- {{discogs artist|Benga|Benga}}
- [http://www.redbullmusicacademy.com/lectures/benga--diary-of-an-afro-wobbler Benga RBMA lecture]
{{Magnetic Man}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Benga}}
Category:British dubstep musicians
Category:Black British musicians
Category:English people of Nigerian descent
Category:English record producers
Category:Musicians from the London Borough of Croydon
Category:People with bipolar disorder
Category:People with schizophrenia
Category:English people of Yoruba descent
Category:English people with disabilities